Tomasz Adamek

It has been 4 years since Tomasz “Goral” Adamek, 48-2 (29), of Gilowice,
POL, now residing in Jersey City, NJ, defeated Steve “USS” Cunningham,
25-5 (12), of Philadelphia by split decision to win Cunningham’s IBF
cruiserweight title. Saturday night at the Sand’s Casino in Bethlehem,
PA, the two were in another barn burner with the same outcome!

Main Events, Ziggy Promotions, Peltz Boxing, and DiBella Entertainment
over the NBC Sports Network put on a great show top to bottom. The fan’s
packed the arena and though there were more Adamek fans yelling “Adamek
and Polska” than Cunningham’s fans were yelling “USA, USA”, the fans
didn’t take kindly to the decision. When Michael Buffer announced Debra
Barnes scored it 115-115 they let out with a howl! Buffer than announced
Dave Greer 116-112 Adamek and Tom Miller 115-113 Cunningham “we have a
draw”. PA Executive Secretary Greg Sirb jumped into the ring taking
Barnes card from Buffer and marking it 115-112 (later changed to
115-113) for Adamek by split decision. Everyone was confused. Adamek had
the belt on and Cunningham was up on the ropes to the cheering of his
many fans.

Cunningham left the ring as Adamek was being interviewed.

In the fight, Cunningham came out using a jab that Adamek couldn’t
contend with for 4 rounds. Cunningham would start each round on the
attack before Adamek would become the aggressor after about the minute
mark. Cunningham would counter with his jab and when the pounding of the
timekeeper’s hammer of the 10 second warning Adamek would open up.
“This was our plan,” said Roger Bloodworth, Adamek’s trainer. Adamek’s
bottom lip was bleeding but he never took a back step trying to press
Cunningham to the ropes.

By the mid-point DHB (Doghouse Boxing) had Cunningham ahead 5 rounds to
1. Cunningham buckled Adamek’s legs in the sixth with a right hand after
an Adamek miss. In the seventh Cunningham started to slow down as
Adamek’s strength was bringing him back into the fight. Same thing for
the eighth round. Cunningham started spitting and had a weak smile on
his face when Adamek scored punches. Cunningham came back in the ninth
even though several right hands knocked his head back in the last 10
seconds to possibly steal the round.

In the tenth the fighters banged heads. The fighters were scoring with
exchanges but Cunningham found himself on the ropes once too often as
his trainer Nazim Richardson pleaded with him to stay off the ropes and
box. Cunningham was forcing clinches in the final 3 rounds as Adamek was
the fresher of the two. “I knew I lost the last 2 rounds but I thought I
did enough with my jab to win the fight,” said Cunningham.

In the eleventh it was one of the best rounds of the fight with Adamek
gaining the edge. In the final round referee Gary Rosato gave his only
warning of the fight to Cunningham for holding behind the head. This was
another close round. It looked like Cunningham would be declared the
winner by a slim margin. At first the fight was declared a draw and then
given to Adamek by split decision. DHB gave Adamek the last 3 rounds
scoring it 114-114 a draw.

Cunningham was very upset losing again. “I go all over the world and
fight the best and can’t win at home. “He ran too much and doesn’t punch
like a heavyweight.” This writer remarked “someone put marks on your
face”. Bloodworth responded with “so is Cunningham’s face marked.” Which
it was with swelling along his right eye kept down by his cut-man Buddy
Osborn.

When asked if Adamek in gaining the No. 2 spot and retaining his IBF
North American title would fight the No. 1 contender Kubrat Pulev of
Bulgaria who holds the EBU and IBF International titles promoter Kathy
Duva remarked “we’ll be negotiating that”. The IBF and WBA super
champion Wladimir Klitschko is being forced to defend against WBA
champion Alexander Povetkin in the meantime. Cunningham is ranked No. 13
and even though he was declared the loser should move up into the top
10.

The co-main event had Tor Hamer, 19-2 (12) of NY winning the first 2
rounds before slowing down to a halt in losing the next 2 to Vyacheslav
“Czar” Glazkov, 14-0 (10) of Lugansk, UKR. Suddenly Hamer was not coming
out for the fifth round and left referee Steve “double SS” Smoger no
alternative but to declare Glazkov the winner. It was a good even fight
for 4 rounds of this heavyweight scheduled for 8. Don Turner worked the
Glazov corner.

In another fight almost as good as the main event PA 135 champ Niam
Nelson, 9-0 (1), of Philadelphia, started slow losing the first 2 rounds
but came back to defeat Osnel Charles, 9-5-1 (1), a Haitian out of
Atlantic City by scores of 78-74 by Steve Weisfeld and Dave Greer. Dave
Braslow had it 77-75 as did DHB for Nelson over 8 rounds. Smoger was the
ref and warned Nelson twice about low blows. “He’s tough and one of my
favorite fighters. When I was told I was fighting him I thought this is
going to be a good one,” said Nelson. The corner of Charles felt they
got shortchanged.

Jerome Rodriguez, 2-0-1 (1), of Trenton, NJ, now out of Allentown, PA,
looked as good as anyone on the card in stopping fellow southpaw Edwardo
Stith, 0-1, of Philadelphia at 2:56 of the second round when referee
Rosato jumped in to prevent any further punishment. The winner praised
his corner and main sparring partner Arturo Trujillo for getting him
ready. “We hope to get Jerome back into the ring in January or
February,” said his manager Jimmy Deoria. Lemuel “Indio” Rodriguez is
his trainer.

In the opener Will Miranda, 6-5-2 (0), of Allentown and David Williams,
6-6-2 (2) of Philadelphia battled to a heavyweight draw after 4 rounds.
Miranda took the first and fourth rounds. “He may be 35 but he had me
hurt in this fight,” said Miranda.

In the swing bout Julio Angel DeJesus, 6-3-3 (3), of Yacobua, PR, on 3
days notice took on Korey Sloane, 2-5-2 (0), of Philadelphia in a 4
round welterweight match-up. The taller Sloan fought off the ever
attacking DeJesus on even terms to gain a draw. DeJesus looked like the
winner as DHB had it 3-1. Smoger was the referee.